Mind your Wimbledon tickets and queues

So you weren't lucky in the ballot but all is not lost. Here are a few tips on how you can still get into the hallowed All England grounds, and if you end up having to queue, how to survive the wait!

Buy on ticketmaster

So few people know about this you could say it was one of the best kept secrets of Wimbledon!

Ever since Centre Court got its roof, a limited number of tickets are offered for sale to the general public thorugh the online booking agents, ticketmaster. As well as Centre Court reserved seating, reserved seating is on offer for No3 court plus Centre Court returns and No3 court returns.

You need to be very quick on the click - tickets are released daily in the two categories below and sell out almost immediately, so get your credit card to hand.

Returned tickets go on sale at noon, 48 hours before the day of play,e.g noon on Saturday for play on Monday.

Reserved tickets go on sale each morning at 9am for the following day's play, e.g. at 9am on Sunday for play on Monday.

And please take careful note of the strict terms and conditions: "Maximum two tickets per person and per household. Tickets are non transferable and only the card holder and their guest, if applicable, can attend the events. The entire party must enter the venue at the same time. Valid photographic identification will be required. If you have been found to have been in breach of Wimbledon ticket rules, now or in the past, your Ticketmaster purchase will be automatically cancelled."

Go at (almost) ANy price

If you have deep pockets there is a way - and it could be amazing

The Wimbledon Experience and Sportsworld Wimbledon Hospitality are the official hospitality and tour providers and they will package up a day at Wimbledon. Your experience will typically include a night in a London hotel, dinner options and of course show-court tickets. Package prices vary widely and already there is limited availability!

Get lucky

Upgrade your British Tennis Membership for a chance to at the Wimbledon finals!

If you have British Tennis Lite Membership (if you play with us, you are entitled to it for free), British Tennis is offering you the chance to win Final's tickets when you upgrade to British Tennis Team Membership. But you will need to look out for the special email sent to you by the BTM adminsitrators. There are loads of good reasons to upgrade your membership, includng a subscription to the online version of #ACE magazine, so look out for that email.

Survive the queue

This guide to queuing at Wimbledon comes courtesy of Tempur (the mattress guys!). Tumpur is so excited about queueing (and matresses) that they are offering you a chance to win a matress worth up to £2,499 - see the end of this story for details.

To increase your chances of getting your hands on the much-sought after court tickets and to minimise the pain of a drawn-out morning wait, you’d be at an advantage (pun intended) if you camp.

Almost 7,000 tennis fans made #TheQueue for the opening day last year (and yes, even the tents are pitched in an orderly line), so it’s advisable to get there early to secure a place at the front.

To ensure Wimbledon queuers get the best from #TheQueue experience this year, premium mattress brand TEMPUR, has put together the following tips for anyone thinking about heading down to Wimbledon Park to camp:

Choose the right station. The Queue entrance is a five minute walk down Wimbledon Park Road from Southfields tube station; don’t go to Wimbledon or Wimbledon Park if you want to avoid a longer journey laden with camping gear. You can view the Wimbledon Queue map here.

Get there early. Early birds arrive up to 40 hours before the first matches. For Centre Court or Court 1 you need to ideally be among the first 1,000 to guarantee your ticket. Last year there were 400 people already queuing by 8am on the Sunday.

Wait for your queue card and keep it safe! You may have to wait some time in the queue before you receive the queue card. However, don’t be tempted to leave until you have it safely stashed away. It is the only thing that registers your place in the line and entitles you to get your tickets. Once you have been issued a queue card, it’ll allow you to pop away from camp to stretch your legs, buy food, nip to the pub, or visit fellow queuers.

Bring the right sized tent. While it’s a great experience to be a part of, it’s not a party, so don’t bring a family sized tent or you won’t be able to pitch it… Tent size is restricted to two person tents only.

Prepare for all weathers. It’s July but it is England. Pack sun protection, sunglasses and shorts, but also waterproofs, and don’t forget fleeces, socks and blankets to make sure you get through the chilly night comfortably.

Alcohol. Cans of G&T, Pimms or Prosecco are a packing essential, but this is Wimbledon and it’s civilised so don’t overdo it, as 1), drunk and disorderly behaviour is not tolerated and 2), you’re only allowed to take one bottle of wine or two 500 ml cans per person into the grounds.

Meals in #TheQueue. Once you have your queue card, you can mosey off to get food, but temporary absences from your place in The Queue are restricted to 30 minutes, so it’s advisable to bring a picnic. You can also order a delivery, but make sure it arrives at the Wimbledon Park Road gate by 10pm. And don’t forget to pack supplies for breakfast!

There are rules to abide by, including no BBQs, no loud music, no smoking or vaping and no anti-social or drunken behaviour. This is a very British queue after all… See here for the Wimbledon Queue full Code of Conduct.

Take cash. Cards are not accepted for the queue-on-the-day tickets.

Beware of banned items once in the grounds. Leave behind the selfie sticks, Tees brandishing political slogans, flasks and big camera lenses. You can find a full list of prohibited items here.

Prepare for an early start! Get an early night (stewards will be ushering you to bed around 10pm). Make sure you have all you need to get a good night’s rest - ear plugs, travel pillow, warm bedding - and prepare for an early start. Many are packing up their tents from as early as 5am and if the noise doesn’t wake you, you’ll be woken by the stewards at around 6am.

TEMPUR is offering the chance to win a mattress (worth up to £2,499) this Wimbledon season - though you don't also win Serena Williams (right).
From 1 July 2018, you can enter by:

Competition opens on Sunday 1st July and closes on Sunday 15th July. By posting your photo, tagging and following TEMPUR® UK and using our competition hashtag #GameSetNaps, you will automatically be entered into the prize draw. For full terms and conditions visit https://uk.tempur.com/gamesetnaps-terms-and-conditions.html